Ethical Dilemmas In Patient Care Essay

Words: 2275
Pages: 10

Introduction
In modern medicine, many treatments are implemented to produce a desired outcome, but these treatments, while healing, can also produce negative side effects that can range from mild too severe, including loss of life. Many treatments present ethical dilemmas for the patient, family members, and medical personnel by conflicting religious values, cultural norms, and professional standards. Ethical dilemmas in patient care are individualized, and are often compounded when they directly impact an adolescent. In many cultures, an individual considered an adult is free to choose or deny any said treatment, alternatively, adolescent consent falls on the parents unless parental rights have been overruled after a conclusion of improper refusal of treatment has been determined.
The focus of this literature review is to determine in pediatrics, would the use of the mature minor doctrine decrease unnecessary procedures and improve relationships with the child's healthcare team or does the doctrine not have enough technical standards to be reliable to be used correctly and/or would it be a concern at increasing mortality rates in the pediatrics community? Addressing this particular problem is significant to nursing by the importance of a universal health care standard when
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In addition, it will also help better assess the minor physically as well as cognitively. However, even with the provided respect and the lack of study the entire doctrine needs to be regulated to be considered reliable, which is why more research needs to be provided. Each state should come to an agreement nationwide on what qualifies as maturity, what are the requirements to obtain the doctrine, how a minor will be assessed for the doctrine, and lastly the penalties, if any, that will be brought upon the healthcare team, parents, or